Method for removing deposit, scale, or incrustations from metal



G. RTSCHE Filed June 8, 1925 Oct. 18, 1927.

METHOD FOR REMOVING DEPOSIT, SCALE, OR INCRUSTATIONS FROM METAL l 1,111,111. c I/lrlll'zlfl.

rl 'lill/17A c lllllllll//lllI/l.

Patented Oct. 18, 1927.

UNITED sTATEs vPATENT oFFIcE.

GALLUS RTSCHE, F RORSCHACH, SWITZERLAND.

Application led June 8, 1925, Serial No. 35,799, and in Germany July 25, 1924.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for removing slaggy crusts deposited from the fuel gases on the walls of combustion chambers of boiler furnaces and I the like, which cannot be removed effectively by mechanical means as wire brushes, chisels etc., and particularly so because it is impossible in practice to reach hidden corners,

sharp bends and like places in the fire box.

The invention is particularly applicable to the removal of the said deposits from the cast iron walls of circulatory hot water and low pressure boilers without any material physical alteration of the metal such as 15 rendering the metal porousfor brittle and liable to crack.

It' is.an object of the invention to cause the removal of deposits, scale or incrustations from metal bodies rapidly, and cleanly,

20 and in such manner, and by such means,

that the metal` suers no injurious effects therefrom.'

Another object of this invention is to effectively remove the slaggy hard crusts in 5 one and the same operation, i. e. at one and the saine time without subsequent use of mechanical devices such as wire brushes, chisels, pneumatic hammers and the like.

Other objects of the invention will be fully :0 understood from a description of the drawings and the claims hereinafter given.

Of the drawings.

Figure l represents, in side elevation partially broken away, the preferred arrangement of apparatus for carrying out the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view, partially broken away, of certain parts shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged section through the tips or burner ends shown in Figure 1.

Like characters represent like parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings.

In carrying out my method I prefer to use the apparatus shown in the drawings,I but it will be understood that it is not the intention to limit the invention to the precise con- 50 struction and arrangementshown, as changes might be made therein Without departing from its spirit and scope;

The block or body portion 10. has a fuel oil reservoir or container 11, mounted thereon,

a suitable valve 12 being arranged to control the i'low of oil from the said reservoir into the chamber 13 formed in the said portion 10.

Inserted in one end of the chamber 13 is a nozzle 14 leading from a branch 15 of a main oxygen supply pipe 16 which has a main control valve 17, while the branch has the auxiliary valve 18.

Inserted in the other end of said chamber 13 is a bored plug 19, having a counter sink 20 for the reception of the mixed fuel oil and oxygen, a valve 21 being installed to control the flow of the mixture to the burner tip 22.

It will be understood that the oxygen is preferably under pressure and contained in a tank such as usually employed for the purpose, but not shown herein.

It will also be understoodthat the fuel oil may be under pressure, but not necessarily so, as the ejector effect of the oxygen blast will ordinarily suffice to effect a proper flow of the oil.

The burner adjacent the tip is provided with a band of incombustible material held thereto by wire screening, holes 31 being made in the burner to feed fuel to the band, and when ignited it heats the pipe 32 and causes a partial vaporization of the fuel oil therein, thereby aiding the combustion thereof. l

The pipe 16 has another branch 23 which taps into a chamber 24, into which the pipe 25 having the valve 26 also taps, this pipe providing a flow of oxygen to aidiin the combustion of the oxygen and oil mixture, and the formation of the flame resulting from the ignition thereof.

From the foregoing it will be readily seen that oil flowing from the container 11 will meet the oxygen which is forced through the nozzle 414 at considerable pressure, and a complete breaking up of the oil, and an easily combustible mixture results, which is forced through the burner tip 22, from which a long, slender llame is projected, the said flame being regulated as to length and volume by the various valves previously referred to.

In the course of my experiments I have found that the usual and well known fuel oils will ,not produce the desi-red results, which may be due to the fact that the heat produced is too intense, or it may be due to the lack of certain ingredients or propor tions of ingredients.

I have also discovereil that al used, or spent lubricating oil when mixed with an excess of oxygen under fpressure, produces a flame whichl causes stresses tc be set up in such a manner as to occasion :scale `or incrustation to crack, split or burst and fall awa from the metal without any resort to mec anical blows, carrying with it rust, dirt or other deposits and leaving the metal clean. l

This action may be due to the partial,Y deterioration of the fatty ingredients, or it may be due to the resence of a large Ycontent of'finely divide metal in a state oi'insuspension such as occurs in a lubricating oil so thoroughly spent as not able to be stripped ef its suspensoids by ordinary methods oif' recovery,

rEhe preerred and recommended Oxy-hydrocarbona finely Y divided metal flame or blast, Carr ing an excess of oxygen is peculiarly eyect1ve,as very high temperature appears not to be produced; for example, I nd it undesirable to use acetylene or even a good quality of hydrocarbon fuel oil because the heat developed is too high, and when used to remove scale or incrustations, extreme care must be used, otherwise Ythe metal will be injuriously affected. Y

I have also discovered that the best results are obtained when the metal is heated to a temperature of approximately 50 degrees R. prior to applying the metal-flame' blast.

WhilelI have employed in the course of my experiments lubricating oil as a fuel and in particular spent or used oil containing a comparatively smallv ercentage of greasy matter with the speci c purpose of obtaining an elongated llame of tlne'lowestv perature produced by burninga low grade' ci oil until the crust splits and becomes loosened from t-he met-a1.

2. The method of removing slaggy crusts Y depositedV from the combustion gases on the walls of the combustion chambers of boiler furnaces and the like, comprising the combined application of a llame of comparatively low temperature and of a juxtaposed high pressure stream of oxygen in such manner as to prei-:luce a blow flame of a comparatively low heating effect and of a comparatively high gnechanical effect by which the slaggy crusts are heated, split, loosened, and blown to pieces in one and the same operation.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts,

this 6th day of June, 1925.

P GALJUS RTSCHE. 

